Proof of residency/waiting period: new immigrant

[lucy]

Question about eligibility dates and proof of residency:

As a new immigrant (landed permanent resident), I will be staying in temporary accommodations for at least a couple of weeks before I find a permanent address. During this time I won’t have a lease, utility bills, or mailed bank statements with a permanent residential address, which I could use to prove residency in Ontario. So does this time before I find an apartment still count vis-a-vis the 3 month waiting period? Or does the waiting period begin as of the date of your proof of residency documents?

For example: if I arrive November 15, and rent a hotel room until December 1, when I sign a lease on an apartment, will the waiting period start on November 15 (when I arrive in the province), or will it start on December 1 (when I can provide an acceptable proof of residency, ie the lease)?

Thanks much for your help!

[SettlementOrgMod]

Hello,

Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us.

We can appreciate that you would be concerned about this.

It can be quite confusing for sure.

You can find some helpful information on the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care website in the OHIP Coverage Waiting Period section.

Here is an excerpt,

The waiting period begins on the date you establish or re-establish residence in Ontario. If you are an eligible temporary resident, such as a foreign worker who meets the citizenship and residence requirements described in Ontario’s Health Insurance Act, the waiting period begins on the date you establish residence in Ontario.

Your coverage begins when the waiting period ends - after three calendar months.

You may also want to contact ServiceOntario directly for some additional information and clarification. You can find some contact information here:

ServiceOntario, INFOline at:
1-866-532-3161 (Toll-free in Ontario only)
TTY 1-800-387-5559.
In Toronto, TTY 416-327-4282
Hours of operation : 8:30am - 5:00pm

I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation.

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Anna
Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS
Settlement.Org